Anti-Abortion Free Speech Case Heads To Federal Court

A federal appeals court heard arguments Friday on whether it's unconstitutional for two Maryland communities to require anti-abortion pregnancy counseling centers to post signs stating that they do not provide medical services.

Lawyers for the city of Baltimore and Montgomery County urged a three -judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a ruling that the city's ordinance is unconstitutional. The ordinance requires pregnancy-counseling centers that don't provide abortions or birth control to post disclaimers stating so.

Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns, the Archbishop of Baltimore and a Roman Catholic Church sued city officials, contending that such requirements violate the centers' free-speech rights; a judge agreed.

The other case involves a similar ordinance in Montgomery County, which was put on hold by another judge.

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